The document provides instructions for an assignment where students must write a position paper on an ethical or social issue relevant to business. Students are asked to discuss their knowledge and stance on an issue they are already familiar with, and address how companies currently deal with that issue. The paper will be graded based on how well the student analyzes the issue, communicates their perspective, and demonstrates critical thinking around their own biases related to the topic.

1. Part I: Ethical/Social Issue Position Paper
15 points DUE: January 31, 2010
Part Description:
Student will choose a particular ethical/social issue that is relevant to business/management. Student will discuss their
knowledge of the issue and their position. Student should use their current knowledge (no outside research). Students should
choose an issue that they are already familiar with. The paper should include the student’s perception on how companies
currently address this issue.
Example issues: Sweatshops, Outsourcing, Globalization, Human Rights, Health Care, etc.
Some resources for finding issues: Newspapers/Media, Web (globalEdge - http://globaledge.msu.edu/, etc.), Friends/Family, etc.
Grading Rubric:
Emerging Satisfactory Superior
Relevance Student can recognize basic and Student chooses a relevant Student chooses a relevant
(weight:10%) obvious ethical/social issues but ethical/social issue and can ethical/social issue, can recognize
fails to choose an issue that is grasp (incompletely) its the ethical/social issue in a
relevant to both individuals and impact on individuals and/or complex, multi-layered (grey)
organizations. organizations. context AND can recognize its
impact on individuals and
organizations.
Analysis (40%) Unable to integrate or apply any Analysis demonstrates some Analysis demonstrates detailed
detail to ethical/social issue consideration/detail of consideration of ethical/social
(Outcome: Analyze and/or self. ethical/social issue and issue and individual perception,
current ethical/social individual perception, but and application is clear, practical,
issue) lacks depth and articulation. and well-articulated.
Critical Thinking (30%) Unable to identify assumptions, Some articulation of origins, Clear articulation of origins,
biases, and beliefs towards importance, and judgment of importance, and judgment of
ethical/social issue. personal assumptions, biases, personal assumptions, biases, and
and beliefs toward beliefs toward ethical/social issue.
ethical/social issue, but is
somewhat general and vague.
Communication (20%) Unsuccessfully communicates Successfully communicates Superior communication that
individual perception and/or individual perception and/or displays individual perception and
business application; excessive business application; some business application; few (< 4)
(10+) grammar/spelling issues (5-9) grammar/spelling grammar/spelling issues which
which hinder effectiveness of issues which diminish the have no effect on the effectiveness
communication. effectiveness of of communication.
communication.
Total Points 0-8 pts. (<60%) 9-12 pts. (60 - 80%) 12-15 pts. (81 - 100%)